I wrote this last week at this time and in this space:

“Listen… Things aren’t going too well this year. I think we all know that. There’s really no need to rehash the pathetic prognostication that has occurred here at the BlogHawgs.com world headquarters. We know that mistakes have been made, and we’re going to try and fix them.”

What I meant to say was, “Adam will right the ship, while I will continue to hand over my daughter’s college money to Vinny.

Adam had a very strong week, posting a profit of $270 that brings his annual account to its highest point of the season. Meanwhile, I lost another $46 dropping me to the Danger Zone. I’m down to $257 in the bank, and this week’s wagers put me at risk of hawking my possessions just to settle up on Tuesday.

If you didn’t join us last year or simply need to brush up on things, here is a quick refresher on the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Free Money!

Brett ($257)

• Tennessee (+20) v. Alabama (-21), $55 to win $50
• Florida (-3.5) v. South Carolina, $55 to win $50
• Duke (+10.5) v. North Carolina, $55 to win $50
• Seahawks (+9) v. 49ers, $55 to win $50
• Raiders (-4) v. Jaguars, $55 to win $50
• Bears (-6.5) v. Lions, $55 to win $50
• Texans (-6.5) v. Ravens, $55 to win $50
• TEASE: Rams (+11) v. Packers AND Browns (+7.5) at Colts

• Total Wagers:  $555
• Max Win: $500 

• Last Week: 3-4-0
• Season Total: 18-29-1

Adam ($1,118)

• Stanford (-2.5) v. Cal, $110 to win $100
• Michigan St (+9.5) at Michigan, $110 to win $100
• Southern Cal (-40.5) v. Colorado, $110 to win $100
• Florida (-3.5) v. South Carolina, $110 to win $100
• Oklahoma (-35) v. Kansas, $110 to win $100
• Baylor (+8.5) at Texas, $110 to win $100
• Colts (-1.5) v. Browns, $110 to win $100
• Packers (-5) at Rams, $110 to win $100

• Total Wagers: $880
• Max Win: $800 

• Last Week: 5-3-0
• Season Total: 19-21-0

NOTE: Half of these picks were submitted Thursday morning and the other half late Thursday night. Sorry for the delay. 

Time to Rebound

Listen… Things aren’t going too well this year. I think we all know that. There’s really no need to rehash the pathetic prognostication that has occurred here at the BlogHawgs.com world headquarters. We know that mistakes have been made, and we’re going to try and fix them. To all the kids out there that will no longer be able to go to college because daddy blew the education fund, we’re sorry. Life is tough, so you may as well learn it early. You’ll be better for it.

Don’t strike up the dirge just yet, though. We have life, although I’m in ICU right now while Adam has been downgraded from critical care. Doctors perform miracles every day, and I’ve performed an autopsy on the first six weeks of the season. I feel confident things will turn around sooner than later. At least I hope so; hiding your truck from the repo man is no way to live.

If you didn’t join us last year or simply need to brush up on things, here is a quick refresher on the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Free Money!

Brett ($302)

• Alabama (-21) at Missouri, $83 to win $75
• La Tech (+7.5) v. Texas A&M, $110 to win $100
• Kentucky (+18.5) at Arkansas, $83 to win $75
• Falcons (-9.5) v. Raiders, $66 to win $60
• 49ers (-6.5) v. Giants, $66 to win $60
• Seahawks (+3.5) v. Patriots, $66 to win $60
• Texans (-3.5) v. Packers, $66 to win $60

• Total Wagers:  $540
• Max Win: $490 

• Last Week: 2-3-0
• Season Total: 15-25-1

Adam ($848)

• Miami (+7.5) v. North Carolina, $110 to win $100
• Florida St (-28.5) v. Boston College, $110 to win $100
• Ole Miss (-5.5) v. Auburn, $110 to win $100
• Alabama (-21) at Missouri, $110 to win $100
• Texas Tech (+4) v. West Virginia, $55 to win $50
• Steelers (-6) at Titans, $55 to win $50
• Ravens (-3.5) v. Cowboys, $55 to win $50
• TEASER: Steelers (pick), 49ers (-0.5)

• Total Wagers: $725
• Max Win: $650 

• Last Week: 3-6-0
• Season Total: 14-18-0

These picks were all submitted yesterday afternoon. I just failed to post. Sorry for the delay.

Short and sweet this week, folks. The only thing performing worse than my sinuses are my picks. If you want to make money bet with Adam. If you want to lose all your money, bet with me.

If you didn’t join us last year or simply need to brush up on things, here is a quick refresher on the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Place yer bets!

Free Money!

Brett ($367)

• Florida (+2.5) v. LSU, $110 to win $100
• Texas (-6.5) v. West Virginia, $110 to win $100
• Rams (+210) v. Cardinals, $50 to win $105
• Steelers (-3.5) v. Eagles, $110 to win $100
• Parlay: Texans (-9.5), Browns (+9.5) AND Patriots (-6.5), $50 to win $250

• Total Wagers:  $433
• Max Win: $655 

• Last Week: 0-5-1
• Season Total: 13-22-1

Adam ($1,038)

• Northwestern (-3) at Penn St, $55 to win $50
• Missouri (-6.5) v. Vanderbilt, $55 to win $50
• Ole Miss (+11) v. Texas A&M, $55 to win $50
• Georgia (+2) at South Carolina, $55 to win $50
• West Virginia (+7) at Texas, $110 to win $100
• Auburn (-9.5) v. Arkansas, $55 to win $50
• Texas Tech (+5.5) v. Oklahoma, $110 to win $100
• Ohio State (-3) v. Nebraska, $110 to win $100
• Ravens (-5) at Kansas City, $110 to win $100

• Total Wagers: $715
• Max Win: $650 

• Last Week: 2-2-0
• Season Total: 11-12-0

As usual, BlogHawgs.com is not responsible for feeling shittier than BK with a losing record and relentless head cold.    

Here’s your bare bones edition of Free Money. It’s been one of those weeks at BlogHawgs world headquarters.

Last week Adam shot the moon, going four out of four. His bold move paid off, pushing his ledger into the black for the first time this season. Meanwhile, I struggled to a 3-5-0 record losing $166 in the process. That keeps me underwater for the year.

If you’ve forgotten, here are the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Here’s to a better week…

Free Money!

Brett ($703)

• South Carolina (-21) at Kentucky, $66 to win $60
• Alabama (-30) v. Ole Miss, $66 to win $60
• Florida St (-17) at South Florida, $66 to win $60
• Cardinals (-5.5) v. Dolphins, $66 to win $60
• Buccaneers (-1.5) v. Redskins, $66 to win $60
• Jets (+4.5) v. Niners, $66 to win $60

• Total Wagers:  $396
• Max Win: $360 

• Last Week: 3-5-0
• Season Total: 13-17-0

Adam ($1,108)

• Michigan St. (-2.5) v. Ohio St, $110 to win $100
• OVER 64.5, Arkansas/Texas A&M, $110 to win $100
• Stanford (-6.5) at Washington, $110 to win $100
• TEASE: Falcons (-1) v. Panthers AND Broncos (-0.5) v. Raiders, $60 to win $50

• Total Wagers: $390
• Max Win: $350

• Last Week: 4-0-0
• Season Total: 9-10-0

We may have a problem.

In many respects, our Free Money investment program looks like the final 20 minutes of the Razorbacks game this past weekend. All of our wagers are slowly but methodically destroying us, and we feel powerless to stop it. A key difference here is that neither Adam nor I suffered a wicked blow to the head. We’re just not as good as we thought we were.

But, as I said last week, the only way to break out of the slump is to keep playing. We can either quit and say it’s a bad year 2 weeks into the season, or we can rally up and still try to scratch out a profit. We’re aiming for the latter. Proceed with caution.

If you didn’t join us last year or simply need to brush up on things, here is a quick refresher on the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Adam is throwing it down this weekend. For the first time in the history of Free Money, one of us has opened a line of credit with the house. AB has only $528 left out of his $1,000 bankroll. This week he’s put down $660 in wagers. I’m a bit more respectful of Vinny and his aluminum bat. My bankroll is down to $734 after last week’s 3-7-0 performance (5-10-0 for the year). If all of my plays hit this week, I’ll barely be back to even.

It’s time to get our money back. Place yer bets!

Free Money!

Brett ($734)

• Stanford (+9) v. Southern Cal, $55 to win $50
• Arkansas (+20.5) v. Alabama, $55 to win $50
• ULM (+16.5) at Auburn, $55 to win $50
• Seahawks (+3.5) v. Cowboys, $55 to win $50
• Rams (+3) v. Redskins, $55 to win $50
• Ravens (+1.5) at Eagles, $55 to win $50
• Tease: Bears (+10.5), Niners (-1), $60 to win $50

• Total Wagers:  $390
• Max Win: $350

Adam ($528)

• Virginia Tech (-10) at Pittsburgh, $110 to win $100
• Texas (-9.5) at Ole Miss, $110 to win $100
• ULM (+16.5) at Auburn, $110 to win $100
• Michigan (-45) v. Massachusetts, $110 to win $100
• Notre Dame (+6) at Michigan St, $110 to win $100
• Arkansas State (+24.5) at Nebraska, $110 to win $100

• Total Wagers: $660
• Max Win: $600

As usual, BlogHawgs.com is not responsible for bouts of sleeplessness as you contemplate just how you plan to tell your wife you lost baby’s college money.  

As frustrating as many of us found the Razorbacks game this past weekend, they looked like Alabama compared to me and Adam in Week One of Free Money. While neither of us found much to love on the board last week, I thought we’d found enough winners for at least one of us to make a profit.

I was wrong.

I stumbled out of the gate with a 2-3 record, posting a net loss of $70. Things would have been much worse for me if not for a late and surprising cover by Arkansas State. The Red Wolves looked like they were legally dead after 30 minutes of play in Eugene but easily covered the 37 points they laid to soften the blow. My “gain” was Adam’s loss, though, since he took the Ducks. Adam mustered one win this week on five plays, resulting in a $170 loss.

But like an ice cold shooter, the only way to break out of the slump is to keep playing.

If you didn’t join us last year or simply need to brush up on things, here is a quick refresher on the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Players must include at least one CFB and at least one NFL game in the picks
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Adam and I have different strategies going into Week Two. He’s taking the approach of fewer plays (thus fewer points of failure) with higher wagers (more risk per play), while I’ve maxed out all 10 wagers with the hope that the good outweighs the bad. If you hear on Monday that I made news like John L. Smith did this week, it’ll be easy to see who had the better strategy. With the addition of NFL games to the schedule, I’m quite confident that we’ll be able to bounce back soon.

It’s time to get our money back. Place yer bets!

Free Money!

Brett ($930)

• Texas A&M (-1) v. Florida, $55 to win $50
• Louisiana Tech (-3.5) at Houston, $110 to win $100
• Western Kentucky (+40) at Alabama, $55 to win $50
• Buffalo Bills (+2.5) at NY Jets, $55 to win $50
• St. Louis Rams (+7.5) at Detroit Lions, $55 to win $50
• Kansas City Chiefs (+3) v. Atlanta Falcons, $55 to win $50
• Green Bay Packers (-5) v. San Francisco Forty-Niners, $66 to win $60
• Oakland Raiders (-1) v. San Diego Chargers, $55 to win $50
• Parlay: La Tech (-3.5), Packers (-5), $50 to win $125
• Tease: Arkansas (-24.5), Mississippi State (+3), $60 to win $50

• Total Wagers:  $616
• Max Win: $635

Adam ($830)

• UTEP (+7.5) at Ole Miss, $82.50 to win $75
• Arkansas (-30.5) v. UL-Monroe, $82.50 to win $75
• Alabama (-40) v. Western Kentucky, $82.50 to win $75
• Oakland Raiders (-1) v. San Diego Chargers, $55 to win $50

• Total Wagers: $303
• Max Win: $275

As usual, BlogHawgs.com is not responsible for you becoming the next Walter White. 

It was far from pretty, but I managed to scratch out a win last week.

For those paying close attention, that’s exactly how I opened last week’s column.

The Hogs covered with ease, and Vandy roared back to cover against Florida.  On the other hand, the state of Alabama punished me – UAB and Bama both failed to cover.  Thankfully the offense was putrid in the GAME BIGGER THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE so that under hit with great comfort.  Sunday was gross, so we don’t need to even talk about it.  In the end, I posted a very, very modest $18 gain.

It was not as good for Adam.

For those paying close attention, I wrote that in last week’s column, too.

Adam actually went 4-4 on the week, but a large loss on his teaser bet sent AB to another ink in the red.  He lost a total play (Texas A&M v. OU) for the first time in a while, but ultimately Alabama screwed Adam, too.  He’s decided to double-down this week in an effort to rebuild his bank.  No TARP bailouts at BlogHawgs.com.  For Adam the week netted a $85 loss.

I absolutely hate the NFL this week.  I’ve only got 2 recommendations, and one of them is tonight.  Adam has once again gone heavy on Saturday, but there are two Sunday picks for you NFL fans to evaluate.  From the looks of our picks, we both will be glued to the TV on Saturday.

Once again, here is a quick recap of the rules:

• Maximum of 8 single plays during the week
• One option teaser and one optional parlay also allowed
• Minimum of $50 wager
• Both started the season with a $1,000 bankroll but can buy back into the game if they go bust

Free Money!

Brett ($1,855)

• Syracuse (+3.5) v. South Florida, $55 to win $50
• Houston (-34.5) at Tulane, $110 to win $100
• OVER 65.5 – Texas A&M at Kansas State, $55 to win $50
• Mississippi State (+17.5) v. Alabama, $55 to win $50
• Southern Miss (-9) v. Central Florida, $110 to win $100
• Arkansas (-14) v. Tennessee, $55 to win $50
• Chargers (-7) v. Raiders, $110 to win $100
• Dolphins (-4) v. Redskins, $55 to win $50

• Total Wagers:  $605
• Max Win: $550

Adam ($630)

• Texas Tech (+17) v. Oklahoma St, $110 to win $100
• Auburn (+12.5) at Georgia, $110 to win $100
• Oregon (+3.5) v. Stanford, $110 to win $100
• Maryland (+20.5) v. Notre Dame, $55 to win $50
• Steelers (-3) at Cincinnati, $110 to win $100
• Bills (+5.5) at Cowboys, $110 to win $100

• Total Wagers: $605
• Max Win: $550

Wager accordingly. As usual, BlogHawgs.com is not responsible for you getting arrested after rioting at the gambling window, shouting that you deserve one more chance to win money despite the fact you failed to stop yourself from placing the bet in the first place.